US Warns of Possible 'Toothpaste' Bombs ahead of Sochi Games

Security has been upped to the maximum ahead of the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. Photo BBC

The USservices are alerting of potential threat of explosives hidden in toothpaste tubes and smuggled onto planes flying to Sochi, Russia.

The Department of Homeland Security's warning is for all airlines with direct flights to Russia and has been issued on the eve of the Winter Olympics' opening ceremony in the RussianBlack Sea resort of Sochi.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that although it is "not aware of a specific threat... this routine communication is an important part of our commitment to making sure we meet that priority."

It is not aware any specific danger to the US at this time as well and the latest threat had not altered existing travel guidelines for Sochi.

"If we should receive information in the coming days and weeks that changes our assessment of whether people should travel to Sochi, we will make that information public," spokeswoman Laura Magnuson, cited by The BBC, told US media.

The US has also placed two warships in the Black Sea in case of a security breach during the games, scheduled for 7-23 February.

Fears were raised following two suicide attacks in Volgograd in December, and numerous threats from Islamist militants in the Caucasus region.